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Legacy has always been the guiding thread in Nico Parker’s journey, on and off the screen. As the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker, she’s been primed for the spotlight since birth, but has still forged her own path. At just 19, she’s put a new spin on favorite stories as a standout in Tim Burton’s Dumbo (2019) and HBO’s hit series The Last of Us (2023). Soon to come are two more exciting roles in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and a live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. Now she takes on a new part not found in a script: Lancôme ambassador.
Some of her first memories, as a doe-eyed young girl curious about the world of beauty, involve watching her mom do her makeup (or have her makeup done). Parker would perch on a small sofa in her mother’s bathroom, enticed by the quiet magic of the. transformation taking place in the mirror. “I would beg her to put whatever she was putting on her face on me,” Parker says.
One moment left a lasting impression: a bold swipe of electric blue eye shadow across her eyelids. Later, her introduction to Lancôme came with a touch of playful mischief. “I remember I had a [Lancôme mascara]—I stole it from my grandma’s room—and ran into the bathroom and looked at myself and said, ‘I’m a woman. This is what I was born to look like,’” she says with a chuckle. Below, more from Parker on her new gig, beauty philosophy, and more.
Becoming a Lancôme ambassador is a significant milestone. How does it feel?
It’s a dream come true. If you look at the ambassadors Lancôme has had [Isabella Rossellini, Lupita Nyong’o, etc.] they’re all so beautiful and elegant, but they’re also really talented and strong women. If my eight-year-old self had known that one day, this would be something that I would do, she would be so proud of me. It feels like a bucket list thing, and the fact that I’m able to achieve it at 19 feels ridiculous.
Looking back, how did that blue-eye-shadow moment from your childhood shape your understanding and appreciation of beauty?
When I first started playing with makeup, I had my mother’s approach to beauty, which was always fearlessness. She taught me to embrace the things that make you different, the things you love that maybe not everyone loves. As long as you love it and you feel confident, that’s the most important thing.
What would you say your beauty philosophy is right now?
I love a big lash and a bold lip, but currently, I’m keeping everything as minimal, natural, and close to me as possible. I used to spend a lot of time trying to cover elements of my face that I thought didn’t make me attractive. Some of the things that make me individual are my favorite things now.
What’s your take on the “clean-girl” aesthetic?
I love the clean girl situation and the current trend of crazy blush. Beauty radiates from within, and when you’re healthy and taking care of yourself, that’s when you can be at the epitome of your beauty. Creating that effect with makeup and skin care is incredibly fun and makes me feel confident and powerful.
How do you think Gen Z’s approach to beauty is different from previous generations?
For a long time, beauty was one-size-fits-all in terms of makeup shades and techniques. Now, because of social media, you see so many people showing you various ways to do makeup. You can see how a product works on this person’s face and how it translates differently on another face—that from my generation is something that I’m proud to be a part of.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
A version of this story appears in the November 2024 issue of ELLE.
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.